If you’re moving to Oxford soon, a moving checklist is the best way to stay on track. Planning ahead ensures nothing is forgotten when preparing for life in a new city. Oxford’s narrow streets, parking limitations, and admin demands can catch people off guard. Without a checklist, key tasks like parking permits or utility transfers can slip through the cracks. A lack of planning often adds unnecessary stress to what should be an exciting new chapter.
A recent survey of 1,000 home buyers found moving house is considered the most stressful task in life – ranking higher than having a child and even going through a divorce.
The poll by financial services firm Legal and General discovered almost half (47 per cent) of people experienced increased levels of stress due to moving and over a third (37 per cent) said packing and relocating items was the most dreaded task of a house move.
Most aspects of a stress-free relocation are in the hands of operators where progress sits outside of your control. Where possible, investing in professional, trusted and reliable firms to assist with your move is the key to a smooth process and avoiding a nightmare move.
One of our recent clients, Clare, found this out the hard way when she was let down by her removals team less than 48 hours before she legally had to leave the home she was departing.
With less a day’s notice, ISIS Removals saved the day. Here is Clare’s story.
Clare had planned her move to her dream property in Oxfordshire well in advance.
After completing a home review, Clare’s removals team allocated two days to boxing her belongings with all items scheduled to be transported on day three when Clare was required to vacate her former home.
It wasn’t long until problems started to arise.
“The team I had booked arrived late and left early on day one,” said Clare. “I had a real sinking feeling seeing how much work still had to be done.
“Only the kitchen had been packed, and there seemed to be an impossible amount of work to complete on the final day I had access to the house before I had to leave.”
Clare’s concerns were confirmed when less than 48 hours before she had to vacate the property, her removals team pulled out of the job, turning this situation into a nightmare move for Clare.
“I felt horrendous, and didn’t sleep a wink,” said Clare. “Because of the time they pulled out, I effectively had 36 hours to secure a removals company to complete the job.
“No one from my initial calls could help, I was frantic.”
Clare contacted ISIS Removals at 9am on Wednesday morning.
Even with no time for a site visit, a team of removals specialists were at her front door within two hours with a full crew and trucks. The property Clare was leaving was a six bedroom, 4000 cubic foot house, which was a big move for the team to complete in very limited time.
“ISIS Removals totally saved the day,” said Clare. “The time frame they had to work with was so incredibly tight, but they got the job done.
“The team were with me before I knew it and were professional throughout. It put me at ease after a very stressful 24 hours where aspects of my home move which were out of my control went seriously wrong. They even dismantled and reassembled my furniture, which was a huge bonus!
“I couldn’t recommend ISIS Removals enough – they really saved the day and if they can solve the issues I faced they’re capable of everything.”
Customer service and satisfaction is our number one priority at ISIS Removals.
And having a friendly and professional team to pack up and move your belongings in an efficient, professional and experienced manner is key to taking the stress out of a home move.
David Niven, Manager of ISIS Removals and Storage, said: “Clare’s story just goes to show how important it is to use a reputable and professional removals company. Opting for the cheapest option to move all your worldly possessions is not a good idea.
“This was a big job, but the team really pulled together and got it all done at short notice. We advise homeowners to always check the quality of the service they’ll be getting before committing to a company.”
If you’re interested in working with a removals company who take care of clients and provide service with a smile, contact us today to find out more about how we can help you.
Over 650,000 people call Oxfordshire home.
Most are lifetime residents, others have upped sticks from the capital and some choose to stay put after graduating from our county’s world-famous university.
With 5,800 property transactions taking place in the last 12 months, finding that perfect autumnal day out will be on the agenda of families familiar and new to Oxfordshire’s scenic surroundings.
At ISIS Removals & Storage, we’re Oxfordshire through and through. So, we’ve rounded up a few of the best places locally where people of all ages can enjoy the autumn colour.
Whether you’re new to the area, an old hand looking for somewhere to discover, or considering a move to Oxfordshire, read on to discover some of our county’s best autumn beauty spots.
This stunning National Trust property near Henley-on-Thames is a great day out for all the family. Originally built in the 14th century, the house has some fantastic treasures on display, but this time of year, it’s the grounds that really stand out. Nestled against the Chiltern hills, Greys Court offers panoramic views across the countryside as it slowly turns yellow, orange and red.
After a brisk walk round the beautiful grounds and woodlands of the estate, you’ll be more than ready for a delicious cream tea in the café. Dogs are welcome at the property, and they often host special activities for children so if you’re planning a half term visit, these are worth looking out for.
With over 130 acres of woodland, Harcourt Arboretum is a fantastic place to make the most of autumn. It can be very popular on sunny weekends, so we recommend booking tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.
The Arboretum is home to lots of interesting species of rare and endangered trees, so it’s a wonderful place to explore for those with an interest in environmentalism and sustainability.
Blenheim is well worth a visit all year round, but autumn there holds a special place in our hearts. Over half term, they host a fantastic Halloween trail brimming with pumpkins and thrilling moments. It’s fantastic fun for both children and adults, and a great way to celebrate spooky season.
The woodlands around Blenheim are particularly beautiful on a cold autumn morning with leaves crunching underfoot and raining down from above. If you get too chilly, they’ve got fantastic cafes and restaurants where you can warm up over something pumpkin spiced.
At ISIS, we think there are a lot of special things about Oxfordshire, but the amazing autumn colour, natural scenery and abundance of fantastic things to do right on the doorstep are definitely some of the very best.
Don’t just take our word for it though – why not come and get to know Oxfordshire for yourself? If you’re planning a move to Oxfordshire, contact us today to get started.
You can call us on 01865 770227 or click for a quote.
At Oxfordshire removals company ISIS Removals & Storage, we’re passionate about providing a fantastic service to our clients, and that starts with employing a team of removals experts who love what they do and share our thirst for creating top notch customer experiences. One such removals expert is Jay, who has been part of the team for eight years. Though new to the removals industry when he started with ISIS, he quickly learned the ropes and became one of our most valuable team members.
Keep reading to discover more about Jay’s time with ISIS and why he’s passionate about removals.
Jay joined the team in 2016 after being recommended the job by a friend. Having never worked in removals before, Jay worked closely with his colleagues to understand the ins and out of what it takes to make a move successful.
Thanks to the combination of on the job learning and a supportive team, Jay quickly felt at home in his role and is now responsible for delivering seamless moves for our clients all over the UK.
“I love working for ISIS – it’s the best job I’ve ever had,” said Jay. “Getting to work with great colleagues day in, day out, is brilliant. It makes a real difference to how we work – the happy team atmosphere is a key part of what allows us to serve our clients so well.”
Jay not only works on residential moves, in which he and the team quickly and efficiently move individuals and families, but he also helps plan and execute large-scale office moves for corporate clients.
“There are so many things I love about working in removals, especially having the opportunity to work at some amazing houses and businesses. You never know what you’re going to find when you go along to pack up a house or business.
“One particularly memorable move for me was when we turned up to a house only to discover multiple F1 cars in the garage! It turned out the house belonged to F1 superstar Frank Williams, who I even got to meet and who I have long admired, as I’m a total petrol head.”
Not every move is straightforward. At times, clients need to have heavy or awkward objects moved into challenging spaces, either up rickety stairs or through narrow passages.
In instances such as this, it’s hugely important to have a removals company in place who are used to working with each other round the clock.
“My colleagues at ISIS are a team I can rely on,” Jay explained. “We’re always looking out for each other and we’re experienced in communicating as a team, seeing us through even tricky moves with no problem.”
As well as UK moves, ISIS can also assist with moves to Europe and beyond thanks to our network of removals experts. Sometimes though, the easiest and most cost effective way of moving someone is simply to drive the van ourselves.
Jay reminisced: “The most memorable trip I ever got to go on was when a client was moving away from the UK, and I had the chance to drive a removals van all the way across France to sunny Montpellier. That was a very special experience.”
“I can honestly say that the whole ISIS team take a huge amount of pride in what we do and in providing every single customer with fantastic service,” Jay added.
“It’s particularly special when clients choose to come back to us move after move, or recommend us to friends, because that’s how we know we’ve done a great job and left a lasting positive impression.”
If you’re looking to move and would like to work with an Oxfordshire removals company who provide a fantastic customer experience, take pride in our work and know Oxfordshire like the backs of our hands, then give the ISIS team a call today and find out more about how our removals experts can help you.
When it comes to a unique city with lots for tourists and new residents to enjoy, you’ll struggle to find better than Oxford. Its world-famous university is instantly recognisable, but there’s lots more happening to get excited about. For anyone who’s looking for somewhere to live that balances vibrancy with culture and history, you’ll find it in good measure here.